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Back Injury At Work Claims

Unfortunately back injuries at work happen all too often, sometimes because health and safety precautions aren’t followed.

As an employee, you expect that your employer will protect you from the risk of a back injury by providing you with adequate training and equipment. If you’ve suffered a back injury at work due to safety precautions being overlooked, you could make a compensation claim.

Our workplace injury lawyers are some of the most experienced in the country, with expertise which makes us one of the nation’s leading personal injury firms. We’ve helped thousands of people to claim compensation after work accidents, including many who have experienced back injuries.

We could help you claim compensation if you’ve suffered a back injury following a:

If you’ve suffered an injury that affects your spinal cord, our serious injury specialists could help with your claim, making sure that you get the rehabilitative support you need.

By making a back injury claim with us, you could get compensation to help pay for rehabilitation and to cover any time you’ve had to take off work. Most claims we handle are on a No Win No Fee basis*, meaning you won’t have to pay any legal fees if you claim isn’t successful.

Call us today on 0800 056 4110 or contact us online to arrange a free initial consultation about making a claim.

After you’ve contacted us, we’ll set up a free initial consultation to discuss your case and whether you have a legal claim. We’ll discuss what funding options are available to you to pay for your claim, including No Win No Fee agreements*.

We’ll then get in touch with those responsible for your accident at an early stage to see if they accept the blame for your injuries. If they accept responsibility, we’ll try to secure interim compensation payments which can fund private medical care and ongoing expenses, before your claim fully settles. Any interim payments will be taken out of your final compensation award.

Our lawyers will look into your case in detail, gathering evidence from independent medical professionals and health and safety specialists. These experts will analyse why your accident happened and can determine any future implications to your health. They’ll also advise us on the care you’ll need in the future.

We’ll always try and negotiate claims out of court, keeping the claim process as short as we can. However, if your employer doesn’t accept responsibility or doesn’t agree with the amount of compensation we feel you need, we’ll start court proceedings.

Even when trial dates have been set, claims are still often settled before reaching court. If your claim does need to go to court, we’ll be there to help you every step of the way, talking you through what will happen so you feel as comfortable as possible.

You could make a claim against your current or past employer if you’ve suffered a back injury at work. We know that claiming against your employer can be daunting, but we’re here to make things as easy as possible.

The law states that your employer should have ‘liability insurance’, which means they'll be protected if a claim is made against them. This insurance will also mean that they won’t be damaged financially if you make a successful claim, as your compensation will be paid by their insurer.

You could also be worried about your future with the company and being dismissed for making a claim against them. By law, employers can’t terminate your contract for this reason and we can provide you with expert advice in this area if you have any questions.

By making a claim, you’ll also be highlighting that a safer working environment is needed in the workplace. This could protect other members of staff from getting injured as safety precautions will be put in place.

If you’re thinking about making a claim, contact our experts today to set up a free initial consultation to discuss your case.

Compensation can make a real difference to your life, ensuring that you can access the healthcare and support to make the best recovery you can. By making a claim with us, we can get you funds which can help pay for:

The amount of compensation you receive will depend on the severity of your injuries and the likelihood that you’ll make a full recovery. We’ll seek expert opinions on what care you’ll need to ensure that the compensation we claim will be sufficient.

If your employer accepts responsibility for your accident, we could help you get early compensation payments. Often known as interim payments, these funds will be taken from your final settlement and can help pay for ongoing care costs and expenses, before your claim has settled.

We could help you make a claim if you’ve suffered a back injury in a workplace accident, including if you’re an employee, contractor or a visitor to the worksite.

Even if you’re a casual worker or self-employed, you might still be considered as an employee under UK law, giving you the same rights as other workers when it comes to health and safety.

If you’re an agency worker who has experienced a back injury at work, both the agency you work for and the managers of the business you’re working for should take responsibility for your safety. They should work together to make sure that precautions are in place to protect you.

We can also help with claims being made on behalf of others including:

On behalf of a child who has been in an accident before their 18th birthday

For someone who doesn’t have the mental capacity to handle their own case

If you have any questions about making a claim, contact our team today on 0800 056 4110.

You’ll normally have three years to make a claim from the date of your accident. However, there are some exceptions to this rule:

Under 18s – you can claim on behalf of a child who was on an apprenticeship, on work experience or working part-time. No time limits apply in these circumstances until the child turns 18. When the child turns 18 they can make their own claim but the three year time limit will then apply.

Mental capacity – you can make a claim on behalf of someone who doesn’t have the ability to do so themselves, including when someone has suffered a serious injury as a result of their accident. No time limits apply in these circumstances.

If you have any concerns about the time limits for claiming compensation, we’ll be able to talk through your options in a free initial consultation.

Many of our cases are funded with a No Win No Fee agreement. This means that there’s no financial risk* to you when making a compensation claim.

At the start of your claim, we’ll discuss the funding options available, advising you which we think is the most suitable. If you have legal expenses insurance (LEI), or can access support through trade union membership, these may be best for you. Legal expenses insurance is included in many household and car insurance policies, so it’s always worth checking whether you’re already covered.

If we think you’re best supported by a No Win No Fee agreement, we’ll explain the process clearly. This involves setting up an insurance policy that will protect you, at no cost to you. You’ll only have to pay anything when your claim is successful – your opponent will pay most of our fees.

Our experienced solicitors have dealt with a range of back injury claims which were caused by workplace accidents. We have particular expertise in handling claims relating to manual handling, a common cause of back injuries. We have an in-depth knowledge of the regulations and guidelines around lifting, holding and moving heavy objects, making sure that your claim has the best chance possible of being successful.

We also have a thorough understanding of the kinds of rehabilitation and medical treatment you may need. Our in-house client liaison managers can help you plan your rehabilitative care, helping you access the support you need for local care providers.

Most importantly, your interests will always be our priority. We work tirelessly to take the positive action needed to achieve the best outcome for your back injury claim. Not only can we help with getting compensation for you, but we’ll make sure measures are put in place in your workplace to stop a similar accident happening again.

It was so fantastic to have Irwin Mitchell supporting my recovery. They put in place additional services to help me with my rehabilitation, which were able to carry on when the community services came to an end."

Jaxx, client

Client Story &dash; Luke

Back Injury At Work Claim

Due to a staff shortage, our client Luke was working alone in the supermarket’s warehouse, unloading all wagon deliveries and taking pallets of varying weight to the shop floor. The usual truck rider wasn’t working so Luke had to manoeuvre the pallets on and off a hydraulic truck. Given the number of deliveries, time pressures and lack of help, Luke hurt himself while doing this.

After the incident Luke struggled to continue his work because of back pain. Doctors told him that the lifting and moving on the night in question had exacerbated a pre-existing back condition he wasn’t aware of, bringing forward his symptoms by about three years. As a result of his back pain Luke was off work for nearly 30 months.

We were able to secure a five-figure settlement for Luke.

“It’s crucial that all employers take note of this case to ensure that the safety of their workers is treated as a top priority at all times.” - Lisa Fairclough, solicitor

“I had to be off work for two and a half years because of my back injuries. It was a very frustrating time for me not being able to work or do other things I wanted to do and it affected all the family. I feel now that I’m getting my life back on track and I’m working again so things are looking much better.” – Luke, client

Frequently Asked Questions

What Can Cause A Back Injury At Work?

Back injuries can happen because of a number of reasons, but often occur because your employer hasn’t provided you with the correct protection at work. Our solicitors could help with your claim if you’ve suffered a back injury because of:

What Types Of Back Injury Can I Claim For?

A range of back injuries can be sustained at work which we could help you make a claim for. By making a claim we could help you access specialist support and rehabilitation while also making sure that your employer puts in place the relevant health and safety measures.

It’s worth noting that you could also claim if your pre-existing back condition has been aggravated because your employer didn’t tailor your role around your health needs. Furthermore, you could experience back conditions earlier than you would have naturally because too much pressure has been put on your spine. You might be able to make a claim in this situation to account for your long-term pain and suffering.

Your employer must provide you with the training and equipment you need to be able to do your job safely. If these measures aren’t taken, you’re more likely to suffer a back injury as a result. We’re here for you if you unfortunately find yourself in this scenario and could help you claim for the pain and suffering you’ve experienced.

To find out more about how we can help if you’ve suffered a back injury at work, contact us free on 0800 056 4110.

What Regulations Should My Employer Have Followed?

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) sets out legal requirements for employers to follow so that you don’t experience back pain at work. Many job roles involve physically demanding tasks, such as lifting heavy items, which can easily cause back problems when guidelines aren’t followed.

In order to prevent back pain and to stop existing conditions from becoming worse, employers should:

Consider how to make jobs easier – sometimes by providing you with assistive equipment, adjusting the heights of worktops etc.

Talk to you – they should find out about your health and wellbeing to understand your concerns.

Take action – after finding out what your needs are, and those of other staff, your employer should take action to improve your working environment.

Quick response – if you or another worker reports experiencing back pain, your employer should act promptly to find out how they can help.

Risk assessments – these should be conducted regularly and changes should be made in accordance with your employers findings.

If your employer didn’t follow these guidelines and you experienced a back injury as a consequence, we could help you make a claim. For more information about how our solicitors could help, contact us today on 0800 056 4110.

Related Information - Back Injury At Work Claims

Spinal Injury Claims Our Serious Injury team can help if you’ve experienced a spinal cord injury in an accidentRead More

Manual Handling Claims If you’ve been injured while completing manual handling work, you might be able to claimRead More

Rehabilitation We can help you access the care and support you need to recoverRead More

Employment Our team can offer advice and support to resolve any employment issues you might haveRead More

All Scottish cases will be handled by the Scottish law firm with which we are associated, Irwin Mitchell Scotland LLP. The law relating to funding is different in Scotland and you will receive separate advice about what that means as well as a separate funding agreement.

* Subject to entering into a No Win No Fee agreement in conjunction with our Allianz Litigate insurance policy and complying with your responsibilities under its terms.

Awards & Recognition

We're always proud to be recognised for the work we do for our clients and have been named as a leading firm in the latest legal guides - which provide information and recommendations about lawyers and law firms in the UK.

At the top of the game

"They've always got the client at the centre of what they're doing; they're at the top of the game, they don't treat the clients like numbers but like individuals."

Chambers & Partners, 2019

In a league of its own

"‘An absolutely outstanding firm’ that is ‘one of the national leaders in the field’, Irwin Mitchell ‘is second to none for sheer hard work alone’; the firm’s ‘innovation and dedication to its clients places it in a league of its own.’"

Legal 500, 2017

What Our Clients Say

We truly value and appreciate the feedback we receive from our clients, as we look to improve the services we offer on an ongoing basis.

Dealt with Rosemary Giles on an industrial injuries matter. Could not have wished for a more patient and caring professional. The matter concerned my father who sadly passed away during the claim and was extremely poorly throughout…

I instructed Irwin Mitchell to deal with my industrial injury claim in 2014 and dealt with Alex Shorey from the beginning. He is exceptionally caring, professional and knowledgeable. He has kept us informed throughout the long process…

My father instructed Irwin Mitchell towards the end of his life in to claim for industrial injuries. I was present and assisted him in his interactions with Irwin Mitchell during his life and continued the claim with Irwin Mitchell…